Physics, astronomy, numerology, philosophy, prehistoric mythology, and literature – sciences that, in one form or another, have always featured in Crüxshadows' albums. After the American electro-rockers recently caused a veritable dancefloor explosion with their euphorically acclaimed pre-release single "Helios," mastermind Rogue and his loyal crew now release "Astromythology," their most thoughtful, experimental, and gripping work to date!

 
For 25 exciting years, the bustling sextet from Florida has been one of the most pioneering and successful formations in Black subculture, influencing an entire generation of imitation bands with their extraordinary hybrid sound, combining hand-picked elements from New Wave, Gothic, pop, rock, and electronica. In addition to appearances at all major festivals and sold-out headline tours across America and Canada, almost all of Europe, and even China, the Crüxshadows have shared the stage with international superacts such as The Cure, Placebo, Björk, Tool, The Sisters of Mercy, Unheilig, Skinny Puppy, Apoptygma Berzerk, and countless others. In their North American homeland, the Crüxshadows have already entered the Top 10 of the Billboard singles charts four times; With the megahit "Sophia," they even charted at a sensational number 1, and their last studio album, "As The Dark Against The Halo," reached number 2012 in the German Alternative Charts in 1. "Astromythology" now marks the next step in the steady development of dark wave visionary Rogue and co.

Rogue (vocals, songwriting, programming, lyrics), Victoria Whitt (guitars), Jen Jawidzik (keyboards, backing vocals), David Wood (violins), JoHanna Moresco (violins, backing vocals) and Jessica Lackey (drums, backing vocals) have worked together for almost three years on the implementation of the latest chapter in the Crüxshadows history: In lively creative exchange with producer Henning Verlage (Unheilig, Wolfsheim, Rosenstolz), the songs of "Astromythology" were created in Rogue's home studio in Florida and in a total of three different recording studios in Germany.

 
True to their tried-and-true band motto, "Live, love, be, believe," Crüxshadows have once again invested a great deal of time, energy, and heart and soul into their new material. Songs characterized by opulently arranged violins, complemented by a touch of romance, driving, rocking guitar chords, and, of course, Rogue's distinctive voice. Faith, passion, and loyalty are focused themes, lyrically explored with literary, historical, and mythological facets. The result: catchy yet profound floor-fillers for dancing and reflection. With "Astromythology," the US band now presents the most complex concept album of their career to date: a meticulously crafted work of art comprised of lyrics, sound, and accompanying artwork, featuring countless references to astrology, mythology, astronomy, and numerology, which mastermind Rogue combines with his personal emotions and experiences. Each of the 13 songs is dedicated to a planet or protoplanet in our solar system: starting with the first single, “Helios,” whose light-filled sound is reminiscent of the sun—the center of our galaxy—through to the upcoming club hit, “Singularities,” dedicated to the planet Mercury. The track “Stay,” on the other hand, deals in a special way with Echo and Narcissus, those legendary figures from Greek mythology who represent self-reflection and self-love and are dedicated to the planet Venus. The touching widescreen ballad “Home” symbolizes Earth, while the bittersweet pop song “Telescope” melancholically deals with the situation of being trapped in one's own orbit, thus embodying Sirius. And finally, there is the track “Infinity,” which Rogue dedicated to our nearest satellite. "The moon will always be there, even if you can't always see it. When I wrote the text, I had my little daughter in mind. It's essentially about being there for someone for all eternity, even beyond death. After our loved ones leave this dimension, we living ones can no longer see them, but they are not lost. For all these interconnected motifs, I invented the parable 'Astromythology,' which describes these themes quite well."

 
"On the surface, this record tells the story of an astronaut lost in the infinite depths of space, drifting ever further from the sun, and thus from the truth. Of course, this is essentially my very personal story and what I've experienced over the past four years." Not always the nicest things, as Rogue continues. "I had to go through a very difficult period with many personal setbacks. Working on this album gave me stability and perspective again. I managed to transform all those negative emotions into something great. The songs contain a lot of hope and an indomitable will to survive. As lost as it may sound at times, in every piece you can always see the light at the end of the tunnel. No matter how tiny."

 
"Everything sounds much more powerful this time. The sound is immediately recognizable, but in a new, fresh way. It's as if the New Wave movement had never ended! My lyrics are another instrument for me. I'm not just interested in making a strong statement, they also have to fit perfectly with the music. I spend ages merging the two into a unified whole. When I die one day, I want all the lyrics to be published as a collection of poems that can stand on their own without any music. I wouldn't necessarily describe myself as a creator, but more as an explorer. Michelangelo already discovered that the work of art lies hidden somewhere in the uncut stone, just waiting to be uncovered. That's exactly what the Crüxshadows do with their music: We uncover the beauty. I feel like our songs are miraculously part of my creative DNA, something we try to dissect through our pieces. Even in college, I viewed everything as an artistic challenge. For me, it's about creating something lasting in these fast-paced times. That’s exactly what we achieved with “Astromythology”!”